Wind and rain...go away

On the way to the Drascombe dinner at Chichester at the weekend I dropped in at the boat to collect some bits so I could start some of the projects I listed in my last entry.
So the batteries are home as well as the bowsprit , the rudder, tiller and I have the measurements for the Mast lifter arrangement.
I even have the wood to make it from as well as some of the bits - hinges and eye bolts courtesy of J Clarke Marine and eBay.

The only thing I don't have at the moment is the right weather - cold, wet, very blustery. So frustrating when you want to get on with things.

The batteries seem to be way past their best, so time for replacement but with my expanded solar project the new batteries should stay in tip top condition

The great bit of news is that I am cutting my work hours by half. Having retired once already and been persuaded to go back I have decided that enough is almost enough and time is more important, so , with both boys through Uni, I can take more time to devote to things I enjoy and this season looks to be going to be absolutely fabulous. The trip to the Morbihan and the Drascombe Golden Jubilee will be high points no doubt but I am sure there will be many other memorable adventures along the way.

Plans pre season 2017

The days are getting longer...possibly warmer, but thoughts are definitely turning towards preparation for the new season.

There's lots that needs to be done, and lots I want to do.....some of which amount to the same thing...others....well

There are several priorities :-

1. I need to have the trailer serviced, certainly for the trip to Morbihan in May but also for the journey to Cornwall in April.

2. The batteries need to be checked - 6 years old now and perhaps time to replace them.

3, The bowsprit and rudder need to come home for a good sand down and refurb after 6 seasons

Perhaps less important but nonetheless on the plan are :-

4. Upgrade the solar charging management unit to run to both batteries - a bit of a elementary mistake and I should have bought the right unit at the time but easily rectified.

5. Build a mast lifter. Having looked at examples on the Shrimper forum and looking at this seasons plans raising and lowering the mast will feature quite a bit - so I will put together a blog entry about the construction as well as, of course, the successful use of it.

In addition to this there are several grp nicks in the topsides that need attention and over the winter I brought back the step are from the boat and filled a couple of voids and nicks that had appeared, so the practice, in the warmth of the kitchen, will stand me in good stead.

The trip to Cornwall is grp refurb on a grander scale. Crabbers are going to refurb the hull, to a condition that apparently "I won't recognise". After several season and some deep scratches she needs it so I look forward to the finished result - before and after pictures, of course.

In addition I have bought a small drone, particularly for the Golden Jubilee Celebration, but I hope to be able to produce some good footage of the adventures we get up to. We'll see how it goes......

Golden Jubilee Event - Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy - July 2017

The highlight of the Golden Jubilee year will be the event being hosted at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy between the 6^th and 9^th July.

I am helping the arrangement for this and we are hoping to attract over 100 boats !!!

The plan, over the weekend, is to try and form a circle of boats within Lulworth Cove, weather permitting; stage a gentlemanly style Pursuit race and hopefully a sail past in Weymouth Harbour. There will be also be a celebration dinner on the Saturday night.

A fun time to be had by all.

Drascombe Golden Jubilee - 50 year celebration

This year is the celebration of 50 years of the Drascombe Lugger – a Golden Jubilee.

The celebrations have already started with the unveiling at the London Boat Show of the very first Drascombe Lugger, designed and built by John Watkinson.

‘Katharine Mary’ was discovered by Sharon Geary-Harwood, from CBL, after enquiries thought the Lymington Harbour Master, where she had last been moored.

Recovered to the CBL yard at Whitchurch, she was carefully restored and made her second debut at a boat show on the CBL stand, alongside a brand new Lugger with all the latest mods cons fitted.

Sharon had equipped ‘Katharine Mary’ with a 1960 picnic basket, complete with shake and salt crisps, a bottle of ginger beer (grog) and a copy of Swallows and Amazons…this quickly became to most photographed item on the stand and together with an album of her restoration she was a very good focal point, with more than one purchase offer being forthcoming.

There was even a cake to cut with two of John Watkinson's daughters and his grandson who came up for the day. Stewart made a speech and glasses of bubbly were passed around

A highlight of the week was a chat to Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who was as energetic as ever, prowling around the show like a caged lion. Apparently he had planned to be sailing his new boat in preparation for yet another challenge, but building delays had put that off until late Feb sohe was on official welcoming duties

The main event of the Jubilee Year is the gathering in Weymouth and Portland Harbour over the weekend of 6^th – 9^th July. There ‘Katharine Mary’ will be a focal point and I think the plan is to get her sailing once again, hopefully with one of her builders, Doug Elliot, at the helm.

For details of the event follow us 

@drascombe50

#drascombe50

Roll on the 2017 season

Looking back at my last entry of 2016, it seemed to reflect my thoughts at the time, rushed, brief, lacking detail, not at all my usual style…..so, with the new season just around the corner, here’s hoping for more time to enjoy and focus on the more important things in life.

For me the season has already started with a bang. Helping out on the Drascombe by Churchouse stand at the London Boat Show was a great experience. I have helped on one or two shows before, but never for the full period, including taking and returning a boat to display on the stand.

The set up at Excel is manic. Many of the stands are constructed some days, weeks, even months before the show opens, so for us arriving the day before it started with two boats was quite fun.

Unhitching from the cars on the ramp outside and pushing the boast and trailers through a maze of miniature building sites was novel. Even as we rigged the boats the carpet fitters were working around us, rolls of carpet, reels of tape and arms and legs everywhere.

We left after a couple of hour’s work, the stand looking very professional and inviting, leaving the chaos of last minute preparation on the other stands behind us.

Stand C029 at the 2017 London Boat Show

The next morning we walked into an oasis of calm. Stands looking fresh and ready for business, the carpet neatly laid, everyone ready of the opening of the doors.

'Katharine Mary' - the first Lugger - 50 years old

Niska - the latest Lugger - 5 weeks old

The 63^rd London Boat Show was ready for business.